The Las Vegas Raiders have made their pick at No. 7. They have selected defensive end Tyree Wilson from Texas Tech. It was a bit of a surprise considering he wasn’t mentioned much in mock drafts for the Raiders this offseason.
However, the Raiders have always wanted to get bigger and stronger on the defensive line. But what do the best talent elevators think of Wilson? Here is a snippet of his scouting report via Dane Brugler of The Athletic:
A three-year starter at Texas Tech, Wilson played field-side edge rusher in defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter’s 3-3-5 base scheme and reduced inside as a 4i/4 technique or dropped into space. After two years at Texas A&M, he transferred to Lubbock and led Texas Tech in tackles for loss and sacks his junior and senior seasons (his 22.3 percent pass-rush win rate ranked top 10 in the FBS in 2022).
Big, long and strong, Wilson plays with linear explosion and power to get blockers moving in reverse. In the run game, he needs continued refinement but uses his long arms to lock out and separate, and he displays impressive tackling range because of his wingspan and chase effort.
Overall, Wilson plays too upright and needs to become craftier and more strategic in his pass rush, but his length, speed and raw power are outstanding foundational traits. His ascending tools are ripe for development, and he has Pro Bowl potential.
Wilson should fit well with Maxx Crosby and Chandler Jones and has a chance to play as a 3-4 defensive end. It’s an interesting pick for Las Vegas, but it’s clear that they are gambling on upside and athleticism early in this draft.
